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The 
First 
Christmas 

A Pageant of the Nativity 

By Rev. Charles F. Steck, Jr. 


The 
United 
Lutheran 
Publication 
House , 

Philadelphia , 
Pa. 















» 


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THE FIRST 
CHRISTMAS 

A Pageant of the Nativity 

REV. CHARLES F. STECK, JR. 

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THE UNITED LUTHERAN PUBLICATION 
HOUSE PHILADELPHIA, PA. 



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CAST OF CHARACTERS 

Isaiah 

Joseph 

Courier 

Four Shepherds 

Three Wise Men 

Herald Angel 

Herod 

Courtier 

Page 

Priest 

Mary 

Men and Women; Angel Chorus; Children. 


COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY 
THE BOARD OF PUBLICATION OF THE 
UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA. 

©CI.A690381 

NOV 25 '22 


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THE FIRST CHRISTMAS 


Hymn, “Watchman Tell Us of the Night” 
(Congregation) 

SCENE I 

{Landscape. Isaiah walking to and fro across stage.) 

Isaiah: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; be¬ 
cause the Lord hath annointed me to preach good tid¬ 
ings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the 
broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and 
the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to 
proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day 
of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 
to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto 
them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the 
garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they 
might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of 
the Lord, that he might be glorified. The Lord of 
hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy 
shall be sanctified in righteousness. 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: 
and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and 
his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The 
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mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of 
Peace. Of the increase of his government and of 
peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, 
and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it 
with judgment and with justice from henceforth even 
for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform 
this. 

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, 
that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is 
pardoned; for she hath received of the Lord’s hands 
double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth 
in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, 
make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 
Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and 
hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made 
straight, and the rough places plain: and the glory of 
the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it 
together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. 

O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into 
the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good 
tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not 
afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! 
Behold the Lord will come with a strong hand, and 
his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with 
him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock 
like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs in his arm, 
and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead 
those that are with young. He giveth power to the 
faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth 
strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, 
and the young men shall utterly fall; but they that wait 
upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall 

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mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not 
be weary; and they shall walk and not faint. 

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, 
and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, 
come, buy wine and milk without money and without 
price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which 
is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth 
not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that 
which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fat¬ 
ness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and 
your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting 
covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. 
Behold I have given him for a witness to the people, 
a leader and commander to the people. Seek ye the 
Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while 
he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the un¬ 
righteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto 
the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to 
our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of 
the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the dark¬ 
ness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peo¬ 
ple : but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory 
shall be seen upon thee. And Gentiles shall come to 
thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 

Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the 
way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway, gather 
out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Behold, 
the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, 
Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation 
cometh; behold his reward is with him, and his work 
before him. And they shall call them, The holy peo¬ 
ple, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be 
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called, Sought out, A city not forsaken. 

For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for 
Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness 
thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation there¬ 
of as a lamp that burneth. 

(Isaiah goes out) 

Curtain. 

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Hymn, “Rejoice All Ye Believers” 
(Congregation) 

SCENE II. 

(City street. Men, including Joseph, women and 
children. Men and women stand about in groups y sep¬ 
arately, and converse, using much pantomime. Chil¬ 
dren playing. Enter Courier carrying scroll. Crosses 
to center of stage.) 

Courier : Hear ye! Hear ye, all ye subjects of the 
Roman Empire, the decree of his Imperial Majesty, 
Caesar Augustus! 

(People hastily gather around Courier, who unrolls 
scroll with flourish and reads.) 

Courier (Reading) : I, Caesar Augustus, ruler of 
the Roman Empire, do decree that all dwellers in this 
Empire shall journey to their respective ancestral cities 
and there be enrolled for the taxing. Let this be done 
speedily, and let every man take with him his family 
to the place where this enrollment shall be made, under 
penalty of imprisonment or death. 

(Courier goes out, leaving group who at once begin 
discussion of the decree in pantomime. After few mo¬ 
ments all go out singly and in pairs, leaving Joseph 
alone. Joseph walks to and fro across stage, showing 
much concern about decree.) 

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Joseph : To Bethlehem, then, Mary and I must go. 
Will ever the time come when we shall not be under 
the bondage of that hated nation? How ill is the time 
for me to leave. My work demands attention and my 
business needs me here. How dangerous will be the 
journey for my wife! She should, indeed, remain at 
home. But the Emperor hath spoken and who am I 
that I should disobey. I’ll hasten home and speak to 
Mary of the Emperor’s decree, then haste away to 
Bethlehem. 

(Joseph goes mournfully out.) 


Curtain. 

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Hymn, “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by 
Night” (Congregation) 

SCENE III. 

[Night. Four shepherds seated around fire on 
ground.) 

First Shepherd: How calm the night! How quiet 
seems the earth! All the voices of nature are stilled! 
The very sheep have hushed their bleating, and the 
only sound we hear is the faint rustle of the night wind 
through the grass. On such a night as this I seem to 
feel the presence of Jehovah and hear him speak to 
me from crag and bush and tree. So solemn is the 
night that it seems almost as if it doth betoken some 
great event, and yet, what that event might be, I can¬ 
not tell. Are you, my fellow-shepherds, thus affected? 
Or do I, only, feel the spell? 

Second Shepherd: Methinks, my good Benaiah, 
that thy nerves are all unstrung. The quiet and the 
loneliness of this vast plain have caused thee for the 
once to loose wild thoughts and filled thee with fore¬ 
bodings. How oft alone I here have sat and held 
communion with myself at night when all was still! 
’Tis true, at times like this, one thinks of things by 
daylight left unthought. But, nonetheless, I cannot 
feel as thou dost, that the night betokens some un¬ 
known event. 


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Third Shepherd: Nor yet can I, who am the eld¬ 
est of this shepherd group, agree that there is aught 
to make Benaiah feel that there impends some great 
event or yet, perchance, some great catastrophe. For 
more than thirty years I’ve watched my sheep upon 
this very plain and oft I’ve seen a night like this when 
all was quiet and serene. Anon, to me, have come 
wild thoughts that filled my heart with fear, but just 
as oft has daylight followed dark and morning found 
the world unchanged. Come, come, Benaiah, rouse 
thyself and shake from off thee, these unmanly fears! 

First Shepherd: Your words sound well, my no¬ 
ble friends, and yet I cannot rid myself of what you 
call my fears. They grip me tight and what I seem 
to feel will happen, will happen ere has passed this 
night. It may be my imagination, but never have I 
felt, since I have been a shepherd, so strangely as I 
feel tonight. 

(For a moment silence, each deep in his own 
thoughts. Then sound of voices softly humming in 
the distance.) 

Fourth Shepherd (quickly rising from ground, 
closely followed by others) : My friends, did some one 
speak or sing, or did I sleep and fall a-dreaming? Me- 
thought I heard the sound of voices chanting some 
celestial strain! 

(Singing grows slightly louder . Shepherds listen 
intently. Make as if to flee. Enter Herald Angel. 
Shepherds fall to ground in great terror.) 

Herald Angel : Peace be unto you. Be not afraid; 
for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which 
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shall be to all people: for there is born to you this day 
in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the 
Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find 
the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a 
manger. 

(Enter Angel Choir y singing li Glory to God in the 
Highest ” They sing and all angels go out.) 

First Shepherd (Slowly rising from the ground) : 
Can it be that God hath spoken unto us ? Surely it was 
an angel that was here, and those were angels who did 
sing! What doth it mean? I cannot understand. 

Second Shepherd: Be not dismayed, my friends. 
It must be even as the angel said: There is born a 
Saviour who is Christ the Lord. ’Twas this event Be- 
naiah’s fearfulness betokened. But what shall we do? 
We know not where to go nor what to do. 

Third Shepherd: Come, let us no longer tarry 
here, nor seek to understand this thing. It is far too 
great for us, but let us now go even unto Bethlehem 
and see this thing which has come to pass, which the 
Lord hath made known unto us. 

(i Shepherds all go out.) 

Curtain. 

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Hymn, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” 
(Congregation) 

SCENE IV. 

(Interior of stable, with roughly built manger. 
Mary, Joseph and Shepherds. Mary seated at manger. 
Joseph rear of Mary. Shepherds looking into manger .) 

Second Shepherd: O blessed mother, we are shep¬ 
herds who lately were keeping watch over our flocks 
by night on the plains of Judea, when suddenly there 
appeared unto us an angel who told us concerning this 
Child—that he is Christ, the Lord, our Saviour. And 
suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the 
heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God 
in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward 
men. 

(Mary points to manger and shepherds reverently 
prostrate themselves. While shepherds are thus pros¬ 
trated, Primary Department, off stage, sings Luther's 
Cradle Hymn. The hymn concluded, shepherds rise.) 

Fourth Shepherd: Come, let us away that we may 
make known the saying that was told us concerning this 
Child. 

(All Shepherds go out.) 

Curtain. 


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Hymn, ‘‘Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morn¬ 
ing’ ’ (Congregation) 

SCENE V. 

{Setting same as III, except no fire . Three men 
seated on ground gazing at heavens. Star seen in back¬ 
ground, dimly at first, gradually grows brighter.) 

First Wise Man (Rising) : How often in the dark¬ 
ness of the night, have we together watched the stars 
shine forth and stud the heavens until their very bril¬ 
liance made them dazzling, but ne’er do I recall, in 
all my years upon the plain, a star of such magnificence 
as yonder star which I behold. 

Second Wise Man : In truth, it is a brilliant star. 
Its light bedims the other stars. And yet, it seems 
to lend a glory to them all. Since early youth I’ve 
been upon these plains, but never yet have I beheld a 
star of greater beauty. 

Third Wise Man: Like you, my friends, I’ve spent 
my life upon these very plains. I’ve learned to love 
these stars that shine and have for each a name. As 
I have nightly looked on them, and marked the brighter 
ones, my soul has come to look beyond to him who 
placed them there, and often have I felt that he was 
near. But never yet, in all my life, have I beheld the 
equal of this star which now appears. Besides, it seems 
to leave the place where first we saw it, and move 
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across the sky. It is, in truth, a most perplexing thing. 

First Wise Man: ’Tis true, indeed. How strange 
it is! It seems to be a star, and yet it seems suspended 
from the sky. It moves! Beyond a doubt it moves! 
Perchance it doth betoken some unknown event. Corne, 
let us follow where it leads. It well may be that God 
is speaking and thus he bids us follow. We’ll hasten 
while the star is brightly shining. 

(Wise Men go out f single file.) 

Curtain. 


Hymn, “As With Gladness Men of Old” 
(Congregation) 

SCENE VI. 

(Court room in Herod’s palace, Herod on throne 
conversing with courtier.) 

Herod: Throughout the world peace reigns once 
more. Our enemies all are scattered. One Caesar 
rules the world, and it is well. A taxing of the people 
is decreed and soon the coffers of the Empire will be 
filled. A noble Caesar sits upon the throne and to his 
friends he’s gracious. What thing can now arise to 
change my gladness into sorrow? I’m well content to 
be the ruler of Judea. What though the people of the 
land do hate me? I have behind me all the power 
of mighty Rome, and I can quell them should they dare 
oppose me. 

Courtier: Thou sayest well, my lord, what thing 
could now r disturb thee? The people though they be 
displeased, are powerless to dethrone thee. And whilst 
thou sittest on the throne, with all the power of Rome 
to shield thee, thou mayest laugh at their displeasure. 
Our mighy Caesar placed thee there, and there is none, 
in all this land, that dare his hand in protest raise. ’Tis 
with thee well, indeed. 

(Enter Page. Goes before throne and bows.) 

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Page: A herald, my lord, who fain would speak 
with thee. He bears thee tidings that he would in 
person tell thee. 

Herod : Bring hither him who bears this news that 
I may know what he would say. 

{Page bows and goes out. Returns presently escort¬ 
ing herald. Meantime, Herod and Courtier continue 
conversation in pantomime.) 

Herod : How now! What thing is this thou hast to 
tell? ’Twould seem, from thy appearance, that thou 
a spectre from the grave hast seen! 

Herald (Exhibiting great excitement) : Hast thou 
not heard, O noble lord, the word that is being spread 
abroad? Upon the streets the people tell of one that 
is born a King to rule o’er Israel! In yonder town of 
Bethlehem this child was born, in humble manger stall 
of lowly Jewish parentage. His birth, ’tis said, by 
angels was proclaimed to shepherds who, at night, did 
watch their flocks upon the plain. And many say that 
he is Christ, the world’s Messiah. And now, three 
sages from the East are come to Jerusalem and seek 
the place where he is laid, saying, Where is he that is 
born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in 
the East, and are come to worship him. 

{Herald immediately goes out at conclusion of 
speech.) 

Herod (Much agitated) : A child, the Christ, is 
born to be a King and rule o’er Israel? While I have 
breath there none shall rise to wrest from me my 
throne! But, none the less, I’ll call the priest that we 
may learn from him the teaching of their sacred writ- 
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ings. (To page) Speed thee, lad, and bid the priest 
present himself before me. 

(Page goes out and presently returns accompanied 
by priest.) 

Herod: Most worthy man of God, just now have I 
been told about the birth of one, whom some call 
Christ. By you I hope to be enlightened. What say 
your sacred writings of the Christ and where he should 
be born. 

Priest: Most gracious king, in ages past, that 
staunch and valiant man of God whose name was 
Micah, these words did write concerning David’s royal 
city and him that should be born therein: (Reads from 
scroll) “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou 
be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee 
shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; 
whose goings forth have been from of old, from ever¬ 
lasting. Therefore will he give them up, until the time 
that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the 
remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children 
of Israel. And he shall stand and feed in the strength 
of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord 
his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be 
great unto the ends of the earth. And this man shall 
be our peace.” 

And so, O king, it may be true, that this child is he 
of whom the prophet speaketh, and yet I feel it cannot 
be Messiah. If I have answered thee enough, I pray 
thee, bid me to depart, for I have duties in the temple. 

{Priest goes out at nod from Herod.) 

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Herod: It seems almost as if this rumor may be 
true. I’ll privately summon here these sages and en¬ 
quire of them what time the star appeared. (To Cour¬ 
tier) Away, Attendant! Search me out the Wise Men 
and bring them hither. I would converse with them. 

(Courtier goes out. Returns shortly with three Wise 
Men who make entrance single file. Courtier takes po¬ 
sition at Herod’s left, somewhat to rear. Wise Men 
go before throne and make salutation with low bow, 
then separate, two taking position at Herod’s left, 
other going to Herod’s right, thus making a semi¬ 
circle. Herod deep in thought while Courtier off 
stage seeking Wise Men.) 

Herod: Right welcome art thou, O sages, to my 
court! I am told that ye seek the King of the Jews 
and have been led hither by a star. Tell me, I pray 
thee, what time the star appeared. 

Second Wise Man: Most noble king, for many 
days we’ve travelled from distant lands afar that we 
might look on Him who is born King of the Jews, that 
we might worship Him. When, lately, we did search 
the sky, that w 7 e might know the portent of the time, 
a certain star appeared to rise from out the east. A 
star of greater brilliance never had we seen before, 
and as we stood and gazed upon its wondrous beauty, 
it moved across the sky. We followed it and thus have 
come to your city and to you to ask where we might 
find him whose birth it proclaims. 

Herod: I, too, have lately learned of this child’s 
birth in Bethlehem, a little village yonder. There go 
and search diligently for the young child; and when 
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ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may 
also come and worship him. 

Second Wise Man: We leave thee, then, O grac¬ 
ious king, and hasten on to Bethlehem. We bless thee, 
and with thee our peace do leave for thy great kind¬ 
ness. We shall return, ere many days, to tell thee of 
this king that’s born to rule o’er Israel. 

(Wise Men go before throne and salute with low 
bow, then go out in single file.) 

Herod: When they return I’ll have my plans to 
execute this infant. I’ll have none rise to steal from 
me my throne. Come, let’s away to things more pleas¬ 
ant. 

(All go out.) 

Curtain. 

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Hymn, “We Three Kings of Orient Are” 

(Congregation) 

SCENE VII. 

(Room in Joseph’s house. Mary seated beside old- 
fashioned cradle. Joseph standing slightly rear of 
Mary. Both looking intently into cradle . A knock at 
door, answered by Joseph, admits three Wise Men.) 

First Wise Man: Peace be unto this house. 

Joseph : And unto you be peace. 

First Wise Man : From distant lands we’ve come 
from far that we may worship him who is born King of 
the Jews. For w r e have seen his star in the east, and 
know that he is here, for the star that arose out of the 
eastern sky did move across the heavens, and we have 
followed it across mountain and plain and stream until 
it brought us here. We bear him gifts of our country’s 
treasures, gold and frank-incense and myrrh. We crave 
permission to lay them at his feet. 

(Mary uncovers cradle and the Wise Men humbly 
bow before him and present their gifts. During this 
tableau congregation sings “Come Hither Ye Faithful” 
First and Fourth stanzas.) 

Curtain. 

Offering 

Prayer. 

Lord’s Prayer. 

Benediction. 


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